WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Green Party has published an appeal to supporters of the Black Lives Matter movement, written by Margaret Flowers and James Lane, Honorary Co-chairs of the 2016 Green Party Presidential Nominating Convention.

The letter encourages “all people who care about protecting and empowering black lives to work with us to build political power outside the corporate duopoly through the Green Party” and invites Black Lives Matter supporters to attend the Green convention.

An Open Letter to Black Lives Matter Supporters from the Green Party Presidential Convention Co-Chairs (excerpted):

In her recent keynote speech at the Personal Democracy Forum in New York City, Alicia Garza called out both the Democratic and Republican parties for failing to halt the growing hatred and inequality that target people of color in the United States and, we would add, around the world. Alicia noted the need to build power on many fronts, socially, economically and politically, in order to confront the status quo and create a world in which black and brown lives are valued.

We agree wholeheartedly with Alicia and the many courageous people who are struggling to end racist policies that perpetrate violence on black and brown communities through redlining, gentrification, disinvestment, criminalization, the drug war, mass incarceration, and more. We agree that we must disrupt the status quo and work together to build a new democracy in which black lives matter.

We invite all people who care about protecting and empowering black lives to work with us to build political power outside the corporate duopoly through the Green Party. The Green Party has been building political infrastructure at the grassroots level and nationwide for the past twenty years. Our candidates and leadership from the local to national levels reflect the diversity of the party. Our processes are rooted in democracy…

We also encourage you to get involved in the party and run for office at the federal, state, or local level… We want you to know that should you choose it, you will find a political home in the Green Party where we will work together for the changes we so desperately need.

Margaret Flowers and James Lane
Honorary Co-chairs of the 2016 Green Party Presidential Nominating Convention